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How to Tell a Boy Toad From a Girl Toad

Distinguishing a male toad from a female toad is not always easy. They often look virtually identical. Male toads do not have the bright plumage of birds or the obvious external differences of mammals. There are, however, various behavioural and physical clues to help when sexing toads for breeding or any other reason.

Instructions

- 1
  Compare the toad to other toads. In most frog and toad species, the males are significantly smaller than the females. This is not definitive though. The smaller toads could also be immature females.
- 2
  Listen to the toad. Males sing, croak or make other noises to announce their presence to females. Female toads are usually quiet.
- 3
  Watch the toad's behavior with other toads. During the mating season, the males approach the females. During the actual mating act, the toad on top is the male.
- 4
  Examine the toad's forelimbs (arms). Male toads need to grasp the females very firmly and this means their arms may be roughened or more muscular than those of females. Male toads sometimes have extra pads on their fingers.
- 5
  Examine the toad's throat. A male toad's vocal sac, a pouch on his throat, is often darker.

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